Press Talk: The show must go on! No, really!

You want politics? Well, as Tommy Tucker sang in his 1964 classic “Hi-Heel Sneakers,” “Wear some boxing gloves in case some fool might wanna fight.”

The difference — in my view — between the local Republican Party and most other places in the country is, we have taken turbulence to a whole new level here.

You can only tug on Superman’s cape for so long before you pay the consequences. And the local party is already feeling that. Still, they keep tugging.

So on Wednesday, the Republican Party officially agreed that Pike was their woman to restore order — and a pure conservative value — to the council chair race. So they should support her run as a write-in candidate.

But there is one minor problem. Pike is not a willing participant. Oh, if she wins as a write-in, she will take the job. But she has no interest in seeking the position. She has no interest in signing the paperwork to be a write-in candidate. And she has no interest in campaigning for it.

Huh?

So what’s going on?

Well, for those not following along, County Councilor David Madore made a bid in the primary to be elected county chair. But he — and the two other Republicans in the five-way race — got whamboozled by the voters. Regardless of Madore’s loss, he gets to remain on the county council as a regular ol’ council member. And Madore is pretty livid about the possibility of being bossed around by either of the two guys who made it to the general election for county chair: a Democrat and an independent.

Enter Pike.

Now a few people close to Pike have told her to run … away, as fast as she can, from this mess.

But she’s not listening.

• • •

One of the brains behind Pike’s sticking around for the fun is a guy named Christian Berrigan. He’s the local party’s state committeeman.

I mentioned him in a Wednesday column and noted — as background — that he tried to rig some precinct committee officer, or PCO, races. PCOs are a force inside party politics.

He appeared offended.

I explained to him that I don’t consider rigging to be illegal at all. I consider it to be politics. Plus, I accurately explained what he had done (asking some PCO candidates — who agreed with him — to call other PCO candidates — who didn’t agree with him — and suggest maybe they didn’t really want to run after all).

If I were a political operative, that kind of thing goes at the top of my r?sum?. In politics, I would call that brilliant! Own it, baby. Own it.

Berrigan also is known for playing on the edge by putting up questionable campaign signs supporting Madore. Unfortunately, the signs looked way too much like those official orange Washington State Department of Transportation signs. The authorities had a little discussion with him and the signs disappeared.

I tell you this about Berrigan because he is a main player — along with Madore — in getting Pike to agree to all of this. And he also orchestrated Wednesday’s Republican vote to back the Pike write-in campaign.

So why was Wednesday’s Republican PCO vote even necessary? One word: Money. OK, two words: Big money.

Apparently, there is some big money waiting in the wings to back this write-in campaign, but only if Pike is the candidate and the Republican Party officially voted to back her.

• • •

In a very real way, Madore won this Republican skirmish. But it should be noted the PCO ranks are packed with Madore supporters. However, there is a larger question: Are actual Republican voters Madore supporters? Madore thinks so. He has been telling anyone willing to listen, including Pike: “You certainly have my wholehearted endorsement!”

I am pretty sure Madore is flashing that plastic grin of his for now.

But I’m also pretty sure Pike is cringing right about now.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

I can hardly wait! Can you?